Miami Grove Revisited
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Volume XXXI Issue 2 February 2005 Looking for a Council update? Cable 4 broadcasts the most recent Miami Grove revisited Terrace Park Village Council meetings throughout the month at the following times: Monday at 5:30 p.m., Thursday at 10:30 p.m., and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. The Village Views’ Council coverage will re- A look at what our nature preserve used to be sume next month. By Susan Abernethy Frank Miami Grove Revisited, a pro- gram to turn back the clock and see the riverside lifestyle of what is cur- rently the Terrace Park Nature Pre- serve, will be presented by the Ter- race Park Historical Society on Sun- day, March 6 at 4 p.m. in the Com- munity Building. Those living in the village, particularly from the ’20s to the ’50s will recall the cottages, families, notorious café and lifestyle of the “Grove.” A February 14, 1965 article in the Cincinnati Enquirer read as follows: “Back in the ’20s, the Terrace Park setting shown in these pictures (original article had several Miami Grove photos) was a lovely summer Situated close to the bend on Elm near the entrance to what is now resort. Now the 35 or so cottages the Nature Preserve, Earl’s Café was a thriving dance hall when of Miami Grove, on the Little Miami Miami Grove was a summer retreat for people that lived in the city. River, are in shambles, torn by ne- This photo was taken during a flood and only the roof of the build- glect and weather and pushed ing was visible. about by flood water. “‘It was a beautiful area before the depression,’ Terrace Park Mayor Carl Lindell recalled. ‘There were well-maintained camps used in the summer by Cincinnati area busi- nessmen.’ Long-time Terrace Park residents remember a huge dance hall where well-known bands enter- tained resort-goers.’ ” (See accom- panying photo) After the depression, many of Photo: Sherry Holcomb the cottages were abandoned. This is what renewal looks like in an urban forestry management Eventually they were rented for the program. Terrace Park retains a Certified Arborist, Randy Haller, who summer as temporary quarters to looks after the health and well being of our street trees (all trees low-income families, but when the located on the village right-of-way.) About 20 trees were marked for winter came many refused to leave. removal this year due to structural weakness. The hazardous trees Former resident Paul Scott, born in were cut down by Chief Beaver tree service which used a crane to the early ’30s, said,” It was our minimize the mess and avoid potential yard damage from falling home. We grew up there, went to After the devastating flood of 1957, cabins in Miami Grove (now the Nature Preserve) were deserted. trunks. Remaining stumps will be ground up in the spring and the school at Terrace Park, and stayed ground will be seeded. “The removal sites are the first places I look until the last flood of the ’50s made treacherous road. edge of the hill at the bottom of Val- to plant replacements in the fall,” Haller said. the living conditions impossible.” A few months later the floods ley View Lane. It was like one huge Paul’s younger brother, Bobbie, came, as they did every spring, and lake and all you could see were a said, “We had a trout line across the the Red Cross came to the Grove, few roof tops of the cottages. Miami River. That was often dinner. some in rowboats, to rescue the The 64 acres of Miami Grove Don’t know much about We also used to love to run through residents and take them to the was eventually purchased by the vil- the corn fields and woods.” Community House. They stayed lage. The history and stories are fas- Terrace Park? Unfortunately, the social there until the waters receded and cinating. Former residents Max stigma of the Terrace Park children then went back to try to salvage and Wiseman, Bobbie Scott and others By Sherry Holcomb and the “Grovers” was a delicate repair their homes. However, after will talk about their life and adven- The following is a random col- cus. She was 120 years old when situation for the teachers to handle. the ’57 flood, the condition was so tures in Miami Grove. Come to the lection of trivia about our village. It she died in 1932. School was can- There was a time when the village bad that most could not return to March 6 program to learn more and is a mix of modern day and histori- celled so that children could attend neglected to make the much their homes. The cottages were to see interesting photos, articles cal information designed to make the beloved elephant’s funeral. The needed road repairs to the Grove eventually condemned. Only flood and displays from life in Miami you stop and think about this place Cincinnati Enquirer and the Cincin- because of the bad reputation of waters and adventuresome kids vis- Grove. we call home. Much of the histori- nati Post published her obituary. Earl’s Café situated in the heart of ited the area and they didn’t stay Refreshments and social hour cal information was gathered from Though there may be others, the Grove. Several Grove residents long. The flood waters filled the will follow. The program is free and the text of the book “A Place Called one legendary human resident lived signed a letter to Council to com- Lindell property and came to the open to the public. Terrace Park” by Ellis Rawnsley. to be 100 years old – Rachel Corey. plain about the condition of Ford Rachel and her husband George Road (leading to Miami Grove). How did Terrace Park get its came to Terrace Park in 1877 and The complaints were that the start? thirteen years later they built a Bap- “doctors…milkman, bakers, laundry Boy Scout Mulch Sale The pioneers and the tist church here. Today the church and salesmen do not like to come Terrace Park Boy Scout’s Annual Fundraiser Shawnee Indians fought each other is our community building on Elm. down to the Grove because of the Troop 286 will begin taking orders on February 5. for it. Abraham Covalt, a Revolution- She died at home one day after condition of the road...The Red ary War captain, took two flatboats turning 100. A scout will contact you at your home. Cross complains because they jammed with 45 people; 200 head have to take some of the families to Delivery date March 11 and 12 of cattle, swine and sheep; and What about all these trees? the clinic and they do not feel safe.... WE BRING THE MULCH TO YOU! seven horses from Pittsburgh to the The village has 2,875 trees in School children have to walk or ride If we haven’t contacted you by February 25 mouth of the Little Miami River. In its inventory. These “street trees” are bikes and have shoes all dirty which Call Dennis Kokoruda at 831-8736 January of 1789 the boats landed all located in the village right-of-way. the teachers do not like… About 30 [email protected] at what is now Terrace Park. They The most prevalent species is the families have cars and have to use established a fort known as Covalt’s Red Maple at 23 percent, however the road every day... Pot holes are Get the best mulch available and help our neighborhood Station near the site of what is now 92 distinct species are represented. some 16 inches deep.” scouts! St. Thomas Church. Since 1985 Terrace Park has been In January of 1957, Earl recognized for its forestry manage- Runyon’s Café was destroyed by Who was our oldest known resi- ment program with the Tree City fire despite the “valiant effort” of the dent? USA award from the Ohio Depart- Terrace Park Volunteers at 5 a.m. The deadline for the March issue of the Winning for pure longevity is ment of Natural Resources. in near zero weather and several Village Views is Friday March 11th Tillie the elephant who lived in Ter- inches of snow and to get down a race Park as part of Robinson’s cir- continued on page _ Letters to the Editor REAL ESTATE SALES FOR 2004 To the editor: Village Views welcomes reader 216 Amherst Avenue $221,000 I want to express my appreciation to Jay Gohman, Village Council, mail. Signed letters to the edi- 307 Amherst Avenue $518,000 and especially to Terry Howe for his leadership in getting the speed humps tor must be received by 9 p.m. 2 Circus Place $345,000 installed on Park and Western Avenues. While I know that it feels like a on Friday, March 11th. Please 2 Denison Lane $400,500 limit length to 350 words. Let- nuisance to many residents, I want to share my family’s personal experi- 4 Denison Lane $532,800 ters over 350 words will be pub- ence to lend understanding as to why it was critical to take action. Over 8 Denison Lane $625,000 lished as submitted subject to the past five years, the following incidents have occurred on Park Av- 823 Douglas Avenue $571,000 enue that have affected my family personally. space availability. All signed let- 440 Elm Avenue $661,500 ● My son, a kindergartener at the time, was almost struck by a ters will be printed as submit- 2 Elm Ledge $670,000 car while on the sidewalk at the bend on Park Avenue.